Analyzing sentence alignment for automatic simplification of German texts

Abstract

Simplified language is a variety of standard language characterized by reduced lexical and syntactic complexity, the addition of explanations for difficult concepts, and a clearly structured layout. It is used to enhance comprehensibility for the readers, allowing them to understand information or concepts more clearly. Among the target groups of simplified language are people with cognitive impairment and autism spectrum disorder, prelingually deaf and functionally illiterate persons, and sometimes also foreign language learners and children (Bredel & Maaß, 2016, p. 140–142). Simplified German has received increasing attention in research due to a number of movements in society and politics, as well as legal developments in German-speaking countries.